The former prime-time TV star didn't speak with waiting media before boarding the plane about two hours before its scheduled departure.

The flight is due to land in Sydney at 6.50am (AEDT) on Thursday.

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Lawyer Greg Walsh, acting for Hughes, said his client and his family have found themselves in a very stressful situation.

"When I spoke to him before he got on board, I think he was pretty stressed, pretty worried, as any human being would be in that situation," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"But he's doing the right thing coming back to Australia and facing these allegations through the courts."

Mr Walsh said he didn't know when he could meet with Hughes because his attempts to make arrangements with police and the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions had so far been unsuccessful.

"The police are not responding to a series of letters - I've sent a number of letters - and there's been no acknowledgment," he said.

"They won't indicate where I can have the opportunity of meeting my client and speaking with him, conferring with him as you'd expect."

Hughes consented to an order sought by Australia's attorney-general that he return to Sydney for questioning in relation to claims made by five people.

A warrant, signed by Britain's home secretary, outlines 11 accusations made by people who were aged seven to 15 years at the time of the alleged abuse, which coincided with the actor's starring role in the hit family sitcom, Hey Dad!.

He has not been charged and has been on bail since his arrest in London in August.

Mr Walsh said Hughes emphatically denied all the allegations and would vigorously defend them.

"I would hope that the judicial system would be able to deal with the matter in due course without, hopefully, the intense media scrutiny that the case has attracted," he said.

According to Mr Walsh, Hughes was being escorted by three police officers and will be taken to the Sydney Police Centre upon his return to Australia.